Motor lawn mower and roller.



W. H. GOLDWELL.

MOTOR LAWN MOWER AND ROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED rm. 14,1011

r1 flame yo Patented Dec. 31, 1912.

2 SIIEB'IS--SHEET 1.

1911mm QMMQZ W. H. COLDWELL.

MOTOR LAWN MOWER AND ROLLER.

Rd "N 2 8 m mmW m T 0- Mu m m 3% m W as 1 m dw m n m APPLICATION FILEDFIIB.14, 1911.

Wig SE5.- lf w WILLIAM H. COLDWELL, OF NEWBURGH, NEW YORK.

Moron LAWN MOWER AND ROLLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patentcd1)ec.31, 1912.

MPPHGBtiOR filed February 14, 1911. Serial N 0. 608,549.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. Connwnnn, citizen of the United States,residing at Newburgh, in the county of Orange and State of New York,haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Motor Lawn Mowersand Rollers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains'to make and use the same.

My invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described,reference being had to the accompanying drawin s which illustrate anembodiment of the invention selected by me for purposes of illustration,and said invention is fully disclosed in the following description andclaims. I

Referriug to the said drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation ofa machine embodying my present invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view ofthe same. Fig. 3 is a detail view of parts of the mechanism hereinafterfully described. Fig. 4 is another detail view of parts of themechanism.

The. object of my invention is to provide a compact and comparativelyinexpensive machine actuated by power, for mowing grass on lawns, golfcourses and the like and which can be employed if desired upon theputting greens as well as the fair greens, which can be equippeddetachably with more than one style of mowing or other grass engagingdevice, and which can also be employed for rolling the lawn, golf fairgreens or putting greens, tennis courts or other surfaces, by foldingthe grass engaging device upon the main frame of the apparatus, therebyadding the weight of the said device to that of the roller and connectedparts.

To this end the machine comprises a combined traction device and rollerconstructed and arranged as set forth in a companion application forLetters Patent filed by me onthe 14th (lay of February 1911, and givenSerial No. (308,548 in combination with a frame provided with rotaryground engaging devices and a grass engaging device, said frame beingconnected i'letachably with the said traction device androller, and insuch manner as to secure the advantageous results herein set forth.

In setting forth my present invention I will first briefly describe thecombined traction device and roller, which is not claimed per se herein,as it is claimed in my former application above referred to. 1represents a roller (comprising one or more sections) mounted on theaxle 2, upon which is mounted a motor carrying frame comprising the endplates 3, 4 and cross bars 5, 6 and 7. Upon the said frame is mounted asuitable motor, in this case an internal combustion engine 8, gasolruetank 9 and radiator 19 provided with the usual fan 11. 12 the motorshaft which extends through side plate 3 and is provided with a worm 13.gearing with worm wheel 14 on a vertical shaft 15 mounted in the sideplate and carrying a sleeve 16 which is provided with bevel pinions 17and 13 adapted to engage a bevel gear 19 on axle 2. The bevel gears 17and 18 are spaced apart sullicicutly so that both may be simultaneouslyout of engagement with the bevel pinion 19 and by moving the sleeve 16which is keyed to shaft 15, up or down either of said pinions 17 or 18may be :aused to mesh with the pinion 19, thus driving the roller 1either forward or backward as the case may be. 20 and 21 are frictionclutch members connecting the worm gearing with shaft 15, and heldnormally in engageu'ient by spring 22. This clutch normally connects themotor with the shaft 15, but provides for slippage in starting to avoidstrain on the gearing. The bevel pinions are shifted into and out of engagcment with gear 19 by a shifting lever 23 pivoted to the side plate 3and having arms 24, 2% which engage an eccentric 2C. The eccentricprovided with stop arms 27, 27 carrying adjustable stops 28, 28 toengage stops 25, 25 on the arms 24-. 21 to insure proper interineshingof the pinions and bevel gear. The eccentric 2G is provided with anoperating arm 29 connected by a link 30 with a hand lever mountpd on thehandle structure hereinafter described, adjacent to a segment 32provided with notches 34 engaged by a pawl 33 carried by the hand leverand released by a spring actuated rod 35 ina well known way. 36 is areversely threaded sleeve engaging reversely threaded ends of twosections of the link 30 for adjusting the link. 10, 10 represent handlebars pivoted to the main frame at 41, 41 and connected by cross rods 42,43. 14, 45 are diagonal brace bars connected to the cross bar 5 of themain frameand adjustably to the handle bars by iueauso-f adjustingapertures 46 and a7, 47 are the hand engaging portions of the handles.4-9 is a spark controller for the igniter mounted on the handlestructure in easy of the apparatus. By adjusting the-handles up and downand correspondingly adjusting the link 30, the device is adapted tooperators of differentheights, so that their hands may engage thehandles in a conifortable position. The torque of the engine in drivingthe roller reacts somewhat upon the frame andcauses a reaction whichtends to disturb the normal equilibrium, but this is overcome in thepresent apparatus, as

hereinafter described and generally it can be stated that the devicecanbe adjusted to move the center of gravity, forward or rearward to insureequilibrium by slight-1y raising or lowering the handles.

In front of the traction and lawn rolling roller 1 is a second frame 50which carries the grass engaging devices, and is provided with its ownsupporting devices. In the embodiment of my invention herein shown. theframe 50 is f ovided at its forward end with the usual caster wheels 51,51 adjustable Vertically with respect to the frame 50 in the mannerusual in lawn mowers. In

, this inst-ancel have shown the shanks of the caster wheels 51 mountedin vertically I slidin blocks 75 supported in the forward end of theside plates of frame 50, andprovided with racks on their front facesongaged by pinions 76 on a rock shaft 77, and said shaft is providedwith an operating arm 78 having a retaining device or latch 79 to engagea cross bar of the framelfiO (see Fig. 4:). Said frame 50 is provided-atits rear. end with a ground engaging roller 52, also preferablyadjustable vertically with respect to the frame, to regulatethe heightof out. The frame 50 is shown provided with the usual stationary knifebar 53, and'rotary cutter 54 for cntting'grass,

but it may be provided withv a rotary brush or other form of grassengaging device.

The rotary grass engaging device is driven.

directly from the motor in this instance by means of a sprocket chain 55engaging av 56 on the shaft ofsaid roand a sprocket wheel motor shaft12.

sprocket wheel tary detficeor cutter,

clutch member 58 movable longitudinaily thereof into and out ofengagement-with a positive clutch'member 59 which is connected withsprocket wheel 57 by a friction device comprising a friction cone 60,secured to clutch member engaging a femalefriction member 61, connectedto the sprocket wheel 57, the saidifrictionfmembers normally held inengagement by asprin'g 62, and serving to prevent permanent iny jury tothe rotary cutter in case the latter is stopped by a stick or stone.

The cutter frame 5O is connected with the motor carrying frame bydevices permitting said frames to rock trans-i rsely and longitudinallywith respect to each otlier to enable the cutter frame to accommodateitself to the uneven surface of the ground in advance of andindependently of the roller, to effect an even cut. in this instance Ihave shown links 65, 65*e onnect'ing said frames, said links beingpivotally- 0on nectd at their rear endsto collars 66 on the cross rod 7and are held in place by nuts as shown in Fig. 3, whilethe forward endsof said links are pivotally connected to the-- frame50 by shoulderedscrews 67, the holes ,in said links engaging the saidcollars beingslightly greater than the diameter of the parts which they engage andthe said-collar and the shouldered portion of said screws being slightlylonger than the thickness of said bars to provide the required amount oflooseness' in said connections to permit the I independent rocking ofsaid. frame 50 with respect to the roller bothlongitudinally andtran'sverselv of the machine. The point of connection of said links withthe motorcar rying frame being-below the'level of their connection withthe frame 50, the reactionin pushing the cutter frame when the device isin use will exert a downward pressure upon the front end of the motorframe,.and

this pressure will tend to counteract the.

torque of the engine in driving the roller, and facilitate balancing themotor framev upon the roller axle. -'-l'.f. is desired to use the deviceas a roller withouteutting the frame 50 can be. raised into the positionshown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and locked in thatposition by anydesired means, as by hooks 70' can nected with the motor frame engagingheaded studs 71securedtothe linksfioin position to receive said hooks.When the frame, 50 is thus raised from the groundfitsweight will; beadded to the weight on the roller, and att'he same time transferredrearwardly toward theaxis or:

the roller, as the mowerframe willube supported in nearly averticalppsition above the cross bar 7;" Shou-ldthis throw muph weight forwardof the axis oftherollor,"

slight lowering of the handles will enable the weight'to be distributedsecure a separate frame in advance of the,

substantial equilibrium of the device when in operation as a portion ofthe additional weight will be compensated for by the, torque of theengine. In this condition the device can be used to roll fair greens,putting greens, lawns, tennis courts, etc.

If it is desired to substitute a frame 50 having a different form ofgrass engaging device, as a different style of cutting mechanism forspecial purposes, as in cutting putting greens, or a grass sweeper, theframe 50 can be detached by loosening screws 67, 67 and another similarframe 50 provided with the particular form of grass engaging devicedesired can be attached to said links.

\Vhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is2- 1. In a motorlawn mower, the combination With a motor carrying frame provided withrotary traction and supporting devices having their axes in a singleline extending transversely of the machine, and a handle secured to saidframe for holding theframe in proper relation to the rotary tractiondevices to enable them to support substantially the entire weight of theframe, of a cutter frame arranged in advance of said rotary tractiondevices, and provided with independent rotary supporting devices, andyielding propelling connections between the motor frame and the cutterframe, whereby the motor frame may be tilted upon the axes of itstraction and supporting devices Without raising or lowering the cutterframe.

2. In a motor lawn mower, the combination with a motor carrying frame,combined traction and lawn rolling rollers having the axes thereof in asingle line extending transversely of the. machine, and a b ndle securedto said frame for balancin, the weight thereof over the axes of said rolIS, id rollers, provided with cutting mcch n In and having its ownindependent rotar supporting devices, and links pivotally connected toeach of said frames for propelling the cutter frame from the motorframe, the pivotal connections at opposite ends of said links being inditl'erent horizontal planes whereby the thrust upon said links willassist the operator in equilibratipg the m tor frame.

In a motor lawn mower, the combination with a motor carrying frame,combined traction and lawn rolling rollers having the axes thereof in asingle line extending transversely of the i'nachinc, and a handlesecured to said frame for balancing the weight thereof over the axes ofsaid rollers, a separate frame in advance of the said rollers, providedwith cutting mechanism and having its own independent rotary supportingdevices, and links pivotally connected to each of said frames forpropelling the cutter frame from the motor frame. the pivotalconnections 'of said links with the motor frame being below the axis ofthe traction rollers and the pivotal connections of said links with thecutter frame being above the plane of the pivotal connections with themotor frame.

4. In a motor lawn mower, the combination with a motor carrying frame,combined traction and lawn rolling rollers having the axes thereof in asingle line extending transversely of the machine, and a handle securedto said frame for balancing the weight thereof over the axes of saidrollers, a separate frame in advance of the said rollers, provided withcutting mechanism and having its own independent rotary supportingdevices, and links pivotally connected to' each of said frames forpropelling the cutter frame from the motor frame, and means for securingthe cutter frame to the motor fraiiie out of contact with the groundwhereby the weight of the cutter frame is transferrcd to the motor frameand assists in resisting the torque of the motor, and in cquilibratingthe motor frame.

5. In a motor lawn mower, the combination with a motor carrying frame,combined traction and lawn rolling rollers having the axes thereof in asingle line extending transversely of the machine, and a handle securedto sald frame for balancing the weight thereof over the axes of saidrollers, a separate frame in advance of the said rollers, provided withcutting mechanism and having its own independent rotary supportingdcvices, and links pivotally connected to each of said frames forpropelling the cutterframe from the motor frame, the pivotal connectionsof said links with the motor frame being below the axis of the tractionrollers and the pivotal connections of said links with the cutter framebeing above the plane of the pivotal onnections of the links with themotor frame and means for securing said links in substantially verticalposition with the cutter frame fro: from the ground.

6. The combination with a motor frame provided wit-l traction rollershaving their axes in a singi transverse line and supporting the entireweight of the frame, and a handle secured to the frame to enable theoperator to balance the frame over the rollers, of a separate cutterframe, provided with its own independent rotary supporting devices, andpropelling connections between said frames permitting them to rockindependently of each other in directions longitudinally of the machine.

7. The combination with a motor frame provided with traction rollershaving their axes in a single transverse line and supporting the entireweight of the frame, and

'a, handle secured to the frame to enable the operator to balance theframe over the roll- In testimony whereof I affix my signature ers,- ofa separate cutter frame, provided in the presence of two witnesses.

.with its oWn independent rotary supporting WILLIAM H COLDWEI L devices"and loose pr'opeding connections I r J from the motor frame to thecutter frame,- VVitnesSes: constructed to permit the frames to rock J.K. MOORE,

transversely independently'of each other. 1 R E. BARRY.

